Latch



`l May 22, 1923. 1,456,169

W. S. WITTEN LATCH -Filed April 5, 1920 Patented May 22, 1923.

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WILLIAM S. WITTEDL'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 'Y

LATCH.

Application filed April 5, \1920.` .Serial No. 371,188.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM S. WITTEN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain ynew and useful Improvements in Latches, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had `to theaccompanying drawin s.

iy invention relates to latches of the type comprising` a latchingmember in the form of a latch bolt carried at the lower end of apendulous bar, and it is designed for use with doors or gates of allkinds. The object of my invention is to provide a latch of that typewith a new and improved case which will support the latching memberagainst lateral strains, and will be so constructed that it may bemounted on a door at a considerable distance from the edge thereofwithout impairing itsl efficiency in that respect,'and which will alsoserve not only to protect thelatch but also; to insure its properoperation. I accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings andas hereinafter described. What I regard as new is set forth in theclaims.

Fig. 1 is a face view of my improved latch in position upon a door, asmall portion only of which is shown, and arranged to cooperate with asuitable. keeper on the adj acent door-post; Y

Fig. 2 is an 'enlargedview, being substantially a horizontal sectiontaken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is also an enlarged view being substantially a vertical sectiontaken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. L1 is a'perspective view of my improved latch in position on adoor, some parts being broken away in order better to illustrate theconstruction; and

Fig. 5 is a view showing the latch equipped with an operating device andmounted on a small door` of an out-building.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 which show the preferred-form of my device, 10indicates a door upon which my improved'latch is mounted so as toco-o-perate with a suitable keeper 1-1 mounted upon a door-post 12. Thelatching member comprises a latch-bolt 13 carried at the lower end of apendulous bar 14., so that it forms therewith an inverted T-shapedmember. The-parts are .preferably integral with each other. rIhependulousfbar 14 is mounted at its upper end upon a rock-shaft 15, theopening through the barbeing angular in shape tov conform to thecross-section ofithe rock-shaft. A lset screw 16 is `used 60 forsecuring the bar in vposition upon the shaft. A handle 17 is providedupon one end of the rock-shaft 15 by bending thev shaft substantially atright angles at one end portion. The opposite `end .of the shaft 15 isprovided with a knob or handle 18 of any approved type iixedly securedupon the shaft.

For protecting the operating parts fromC the weather, supporting thebolt against lateral strains, and for controlling its operation, I have`provided an improvedform of casing comprising two vcasing members 19and 20, the latter of which is mounted telescopically within the othermember. By y making the side walls of the two members 19 and 2O ofappropriate width with respect to each other as is best shown inFigsf 2and 3, a very strong and efectiv'e casingfis provided adapted to be heldfirmly in position by the securing-means which, in theconstructionillustrated, is in the form of screws A21. f As is clearlyshown in Fig.- 3, therock-shaft 15 is revolubly mounted in theoppositely-disposed walls of the casing by means of bushings 22. f It isdesirable both from the standpoint of convenience and efficiency, tohave the latch-operating handle or lever positioned a short distanceback of the edge of the door, but it is necessary that the outer end oft-he bolt when it is in its operative vposition project far enoughbeyond the outer edge of the door to engage the keeper. It is alsonecessary that means be provided fer'limit- 9 ing the outward movementof the bolt, and that the'bolt be supportedl against lateral strains.These requirements are all met lby constructingthe case in a specialmanner which will n'ow be described. As best shown in Fig. 1, the outermarginal wall'of the case is vertical and parallel with the bar 111,which, when the bolt is in operative postion, is in contact with saidwall, so that the wall serves as a stop to -limit outward movementy ofthe bolt. Said wall does not, however, extend down to the bolt, but at apoint a short distancevabove it it is provided with ook an extension 23through which one of the screws 2l passes. By means of this eXtensionthe case provides a very strong support Jfor the bolt against laterastrains, as the extension approaches closely to the edge or".V

the doorand permits the screws which secure the lower' end of the caseto be placed quite a distance apart longitudinally of the bolt. One ofthe screws is placed above and the other below the bolt, as shown inFig; 1, and consequently the bolt is well braced f against the strainsto which it is subjected boundl to its operativel position when it` isswung back sharplyinto the case.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 5 the handle portion 17 of therockshatt 15 is omitted and a cable 24 is used tor moving the latch boltinward out of operative position. In the illustrated arrangement thecable 211 ,extends from the latch bolt over a small pulley 25 mounted insuitable position on the door 26 so that by pulling on the cable thebolt may be' with` drawn into the case. When the tension on'y the cableis relieved the bolt is returned by gravity to its operative position. j

It will be understood that the principal support for the latch-bolt 13is provided by those parts of the walls of the casing irnmediatelyadjacent to the screws 21, from which it will be appreciated'that thedistance at which such screws are located from each other is ofimportance in the matte-r ci the strength ofthe support provided,inasmuch as a much stronger support is attained as such screws are movedfarther apart. In this particular then the provision of the extension 23is important, since by the use of this extension I am enabled to placethe screws 21 at the lowermost portion of the casing at a considerablygreater distance apart without the necessity for employing the uselessmetal involved in making the casing as a whole flush with the edge ofthe door. By the use of this expedient, I am enabled to obtain therequisite rein,- forcement of vthe latch-bolt without the use of anyadditional means for strengthening the casing walls adjacent to theposition of 'the latch-bolt.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A latch comprising a casing, a pendulous inverted T-shaped barpivotally supported at its upper endin said casing, a rock-shaft uponwhich `said bar is iixedly mounted, a stop carried by said casingadapted to engage saidv bar to limit its movement in one direction, anda handle in the form of an angularly-disposed leveriixedly connectedwith said rock-shaft tor actuating said pendulous bar.

- 2. A latch comprising a casing formed of two members having telescopicengagement with each other, means for securing said two men'ibers firmlytogether, a pendulous bar mounted in said casing, and ahorizontallydisposed latch-bolt mounted on the lower end ot saidpendulous bar and movable freely between and supported against lateralstrains bythe oppositely-disposed` walls'of said easing, said latch boltbeing 'arranged normally toproject beyond said casing and being adaptedto be retracted tliereinto.

- 3. A latch comprising a casing formed of two members havin-gtelescopic engagement'- with each other, a pendulous bar mountedv in;said casing, a horizontall -disposed latchbolt mounted on the lower endof said pendulous. bar and movable freely between and supported. againstlateral strainsby ythe ovp-vk positely-disposed walls of said casing,said latch bolt.` being arranged normally to project beyond said casingand being adapted to be retracted thereinto, and screws securing saidtwo casing members together both above and below said latch-bolt.

4. `Alatch comprising' a casing adapted to l be secured to a door ashort distance back from 'the edge thereof, a. pendulous;V banmounted'in said casing, la horizontally-dis-;` posed latching-boltmounted on the lower end of said pendulous bar and movable freelybetween the oppcsitely-disposed ,walls of Said edge of said casingsubstantially to the edge of theV door adapted `to support thelatchingbolt adjacent to the co-operating keeper.

5. A. latch comprising a casingadapted to be secured to a door a shortdistance back from the edge thereof, a pendulous bar mounted in saidcasing, a horizontally-disposed latch holt mounted on the lower vend ofsaid pendulous bar and movable freely between the oppositely-dis-posed/walls o, said casing, said Vlatch bolt being arranged normally toproject beyond said casing and being adapted to be retracted thereinto,an

casing, and an extension from the extension from the edge of said casingsubl Y 6. A latch comprising a casing' Jformed two members havingtelescopic engagement with each other, a pendulous bar mounted in saidcasing, a horizontally-disposed latch bolt mounted on the lower end ofsaid pendulous bar and movable Jfreely between the oppositely-disposedwalls of said casing,said.

latch bolt being arranged normally `to project beyond said casing andbeing adapted to v be retracted thereinto, an extension from the edge ofsaid casing formed integral with the casing members and comprising meansfor holding the extension walls at the desired distance apart, and meansfor securing said extension parts irmly together for providing a supportfor said'latch-bolt against lateral strains.

7. A latch comprising a casing formed of two members, a pendulous barmounted in said casing, a horizontally-disposed latchbolt mounted on thelower end of the pendulous bar and movable freely between and supportedagainst lateral strains by the op-' positely-disposed walls of latchbolt being arranged normally to project beyond said casing and beingadapted to be retracted thereinto, a screw securing said two casingmembers together at its front edge portion above said latch-bolt, and asecond screw securing said two casing said casing, said members togetherat the rear edge portion of j positely-disposed walls of said casing,said latch bolt being arranged' normally to project beyond said casingand beingadapted to be retracted thereinto, a screw securing said twocasing members together at the front edge portion of said casingabovesaid latch-bolt, a second screw securing said two casing memberstogether at the rear edge yportion of the casing below said latch-bolt,and means carried by the casing adjacent to said screws respectively forholding thewalls thereof spaced apart.

j WILLIAM s. WITTEN.

